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Poll boost for SNP as backing for split grows

September 7 2011, 1:01am, The Times

Alex Salmond confirmed that a referendum on independence would be held in the latter part of this ParliamentJames Glossop for The Times

Support for independence among Scots has risen by almost 13 per cent in less than a year but still only commands the backing of just over a third of voters north of the Border, according to a new poll carried out for The Times.

The poll by Ipsos MORI shows that 60 per cent of Scots certain to vote — including more than one in three of SNP voters — would oppose separation from the UK if a referendum was held now. Thirty five per cent of Scots would vote “yes” to independence, up from 22 per cent in November last year.

However, while the lack of an outright majority for independence will be chastening news for Alex Salmond, the First Minister, and for the…